Holiday Mailbag: Freddy Sanchez

Sanchez, 35, played zero big league games this past season due to shoulder surgery (labrum) and back surgery (herniated disc). He was rehabbing from the shoulder procedure when the back problem popped up in July, which led to the Giants acquiring Marco Scutaro prior to the trade deadline. That worked out pretty well for San Francisco.

Prior to the injuries, Sanchez was a classic low-power, contact-oriented middle infielder. He won the 2006 batting title with the Pirates and hit .291/.338/.397 (104 wRC+) in 740 plate appearances with the Giants from 2010-2011. Sanchez will put the ball in play from the right side of the plate (13.9 K% and 84.7% contact rate), but he won’t walk (6.1 BB%), won’t hit for power (.106 ISO and 5.2% HR/FB), and won’t steal any bases (13-for-22 career). He did most of his recent damage against lefties (122 wRC+ from 2010-2011) rather than righties (98 wRC+), though it wasn’t a massive split.

Defensively, Sanchez has been a second baseman exclusively since 2008. He has less than 1,350 innings of experience at third as a big leaguer and just 351 innings at shortstop, all of which came more than a half-decade ago. The various metrics have consistently rated him as an above-average defender at second through the years. The surgery was on his right shoulder, so it’s unclear if Sanchez still has the arm strength to make the throw from the left side of the infield. I’m not saying he can’t do it, but he has to prove he can before a team could seriously consider him a utility infielder.

Sanchez’s agent recently told Derrick Goold that his client is healthy and looking for an opportunity to prove himself this coming season. Several unknown teams have expressed interest, though none have made offers. The Yankees have Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez in-house, both of whom are able to play the left side of the infield (not necessarily well, but they can do it) and be something more than zeroes with the bat. Sanchez has to still prove he can do both of those things, which is why I think he’d look to join a team that offers more of an opportunity. If he wants to take a minor league deal and compete for a job, great. Otherwise the two sides don’t fit well with each other.

Interesting name, but those seem to be two significant procedures. Minor league deal/ST invite fodder, but he might have a chance of nabbing a UTL role for another club right out the gate anyways.

Laz

I’d give a minor league deal, with chance to make the team. They do have cojo/adams/nix that could fill the role, but if he can prove better is worth it.

Even a minor league deal where he can opt out if not brought up by may 1 would work.

turd surfer

Cue Giancarlo Stanton rosterbation.

Robinson Tilapia

Let me guess, bottom-feeding, the Yankees should only go after superstars at backup positions, no more platoon players, fits right in as injured and 35, yadda yadda yadda.

In all seriousness, though, older guy coming off of injury, and not really being a multi-dimensional player, I’m not even sure I’d put him above Jayson Nix at this moment on my depth chart, even if he were to get an ST invite and put up amazing number. MiLB deal and wait for an opportunity while in Scranton.

jjyank

Yeah. At least Nix has played 3B and SS recently, and we know he’s healthy. Semi-interesting name, and I never say no to an MiLB deal, but I would imagine a middle infielder who’s not a total black hole at the plate will get an MLB deal somewhere.

Laz

If he can handle 2/3rd that would be fine. Nunez can handle shortstop, and if need be sanchez starts at 3rd, and Youk shifts to 1st.

Robinson Tilapia

That picture looks just like the position I was in during my first-ever Pilates class a few minutes ago.

Pass. He doesn’t play enough short stop, which is most likely where half of his ABs are coming from. On top of that he’s hit .291 in his career but has a barely above average wRC+? I know contact guys are the ‘in’ thing right now, but that is like Brett Gardner level singles power, w/o the ability to even steal a base after he gets on. I would much rather go into the season with Nunez and Nix as my back up infielders. I feel like Nunez can hit better than Sanchez after a full season removed from the game, plus Nunez has at list a little bit of power and very good speed, while Nix has a good glove and can at least hit lefties near average.

Yankee insider

He would be great on a minor league deal but we have mustelier/pirela that are each MiLB UTIL Men. Mustelier plays all 4 corners and Pirela plays everywhere except catcher and CF. Plus we have nix but I believe Sanchez could beat out nix for the UTIL spot or he could at least be a bench player. Also I see someone asked about Adam Kennedy who hits Lefty he’s kind of under the yanks radar but they’re no agressively pursuing him yet. He would be a great cheap 1 year deal and would replace Chavez as a lefty INF off the bench/backup. He can play each INF Position and a little corner OF.

Robinson Tilapia

I honestly wouldn’t let the presence of either of those guys stop me from giving a vet a ST invite and see where it goes.

dalelama

My, my we are getting desperate.

Robinson Tilapia

Do you have a better mailbag question you’d like to propose? Mike is going to output what we input.

dalelama

How sad is it two Yankee fans are inquiring about Freddie Sanchez? The stench of this rotting franchise is becoming quite malodorous.

What do you think the chancea are…..Jeter announcea he is going to play left field to help the team.
Nunez at short.
Granderson will be traded.
Gardner to Center, Suzuki/Diaz in right
Cano gone by July for prospects and possible resign next year.

Robinson Tilapia

What’s a number less than zero?

Jacob

Just let him have his moment.

Robinson Tilapia

Funny. I thought this didn’t post from my phone.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

Sergio Mitre’s bWAR for his Yankee career.

Just kidding, couldn’t help myself.

Robinson Tilapia

I hope he’s getting royalties from you and Theodore.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

I mention his name every morning when I say “excuse me while I adjourn to the bathroom to take a Mitre”.

dalelama

Jeter–none

Nunez–none

Granderson–hopefully not, unless we have no chance of playoffs at trade deadline

Sign Elvis Andrus next season when he becomes a free agent, Texas probably won’t resign him because they want Profar to be their Short Stop, extend Hughes this off season, allow Granderson to walk next season and bring up Williams/Heathcott/Austin for 2014, sign Cano (preferably no more than 5-6 years), and hope that one or two of Nova/Phelps/Banuelos/Pineda work out

turd surfer

Andrus is a free agent in two seasons not one.

Eli Whiteside

Cano will not take less then 8 years unless the AAV goes up to 27 or 28 mil. Lets face it, this is the last year we have Cano at 2B

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

What I fear is that the Dodgers will offer him a Pujols like contract and put the Yankees in the position where the smart long term move is to let him walk and all we’re left with is a crappy draft pick.

trr

pass

Deep Thoughts

There’s already CoJo and Adams and Nix down there right now, right? So it’s not like Sanchez would be guaranteed a lot of playing time even at AAA. It seems like he’d be better off looking at offers from other teams.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

And the world will be a better place for the next 5 weeks with the Giants out of the playoffs.

Thank you Bears.

Pistol Pete

The Giants finished 9 and 7 with the toughest schedule in the entire league and are out. Granted they played poorly at times but with major injuries and a brutal schedule they miss the playoffs to a tiebreaker with teams with significantly easier schedules. Non division games at Atlanta SF Balt and Cincinatti all on the road and all playoff teams and home non division games with Pittsburgh GB NO and it ‘s easy to see why they ended up just at 9 and 7. No way Chicago Washington Dallas or Minnesota get to 9 and 7 with the Giants schedule.

All of this. Also, I personally think even though they trounced the Giants The Falcons would have lost in the Medowlands. I said the same thing about the Saints last season and this season the Saints came north and caught a beating. That said, The Giants shot themselves in the foot losing to Dallas to open the season and to a not very good (IMO) Cinci team a few weeks ago, as well as a compromised Baltimore team last week.

This season the Giants should focus on getting a corner that can stay healthy (looking at you Prince) and/or play consistently (looking at you Webster), as well as look for an upgrade over Kenny Philips (who is good not great) and get some linebacker help because Kiwinuka is better on the line IMO and Blackburn is playing well above his ability. So, like I’ve said the past 3 seasons now, the Giants need to upgrade their Defensive backfield and Linebacking core.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

They’re one of the best run teams in the NFL. I’ sure they’ll be back strong as ever next year.
What they need are some CBs. Webster is just horrible and they couldn’t cover anyone long enough to let the pass rushers get the QB.

If I were a Giants fan, my biggest concern would be that young teams like Washington, SF and Seattle look like they’re gonna be tougher and tougher to beat over the next 2-3 years

Ted Nelson

Douche

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

Nice reply.

Talk about spoiled, you just won the SB last year and what, twice in the past 4-5 years. If you’re a Giants fan, life has been very good in recent years.

Ted Nelson

Your response is completely irrelevant, which is not surprising. Whether or not I am a Giants fan in totally irrelevant to my comment. Whether or not the Giants have been good recently is completely irrelevant to my comment. It make me sad to read what you pass off as reason.

Your comment was extremely douchy. So, yes, my reply was “nice.” Extremely appropriate. Why you would try to defend yourself is beyond me. You made a comment to disparage a team that you know damn well a high portion of posters on here root for. Why else did you do that if not to be a total asshole? That is the only possible explanation I see. And it doesn’t surprise me at all based on your commenting history. There’s a word for people who go onto blogs for no other reason than to make unproductive, disparaging remarks intended to make other people feel bad: troll.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

To all Giants fans of RAB, I offer my most sincere apology for my inappropriate comment.

As a Cowboys fan, I’m sure I too will be swallowing a bitter pill about 5 hours from now after they likely lose yet another final game of the season that could sent them to the playoffs

As you Ted Nelson, to quote pig vomit from private parts, “you are the fucking Antichrist.”.

Ted Nelson

Not at all surprised that you’re a Cowboys fan. Probably recently became a Heat fan after being a Laker or Celtic fan, too, huh?

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

No I’m a diehard Knicks fan as R Tilapia can attest to since the Bernard King days.

What’s wrong with being a Cowboys fan? I’ve liked them since the Danny White/Tony Dorsett years since I was a child.

You really are an asshole.

Reuben Sierra’s Chains

Ted calling someone an asshole? Pot meet Kettle.

dalelama

He is a world class wanker.

pounder

Jints need a big running back,some help in the secondary,and a more efficient defense line.That is all.

mrdbag

Does anyone think caah will inquire about Stanton? Sometimes you have to go the extra mile. You will recall Theo having thanksgiving dinner with schilling.

Bart

I have followed Sanchez and boy can the kid hit. When playing he has good numbers. He won a batting title and a World Series ring. Some team could pick him up on a minor league contract for real cheap and give him a chance to prove himself again.